[DXBoy]

I was reading some other newsgroups and found several postings regarding users of K&N filters having problems with their engines in the long run. The main complaint was that since the K&N is an oil-based filter, some of the oil can make its way inside the engine with the contaminants? Another thing was a MAF sensor that can get confused by the oil detected from the K&N filter that can eventually lead to the check engine light coming on?

Anyone hear about these allegations? Your thoughts? Makes me think twice about getting a K&N filter for my Element. :?:

 

[Ming]

IMHO,

The K&N is a bad choice if you paln to keep the engine running without premature wear. Its true you will gain all the power due to increased airflow but at the expense of proper air filtrartion. Most people who run the K&N filter do not oil the filter enough.

Usually if you can see daylight through the filter you can imagine the contaminants that can get through. Always look for the filter with more pleats and denser filter material(usually paper or some sort of fiber). I woudl stick with the factory filter.

By the way the Honda does not use a Mass air system. It uses Manifold absolute Pressure better known as a MAP system. The oil on the K&N will cause no ill effects whatsoever on the sensor.

 

[firetruck41]

IMHO anything that flows more air will flow more contaminants, I won't use it. It may be negligible amounts of more contaminants, but I don't wanna mess with it!

 

[Oak Lawn Element]

There has been YEARS of testing with K&N filters by just about every automotive magazine out there. Results are consistent. K&N is less restrictive than a paper filter, and the PROPERLY oiled cotton filter does a better job of providing contaminant free air to the engine.

My Dad used to give me the old "It would have come that way from the factory if it was any good..." line of crap, until my simple but effective modifications on his '91 4.3 V-6 S-10 buried that line of "reasoning." A better chip for the computer, 160 thermostat, open style K&N filter, cat-back Flowmaster duals, B&M strip shift kit for the tranny, wider low profile tires and a rear a/s bar changed an everyday truck into a responsive and fun commuter. And, the documented mileage improved considerably.

Not all mods are for everyone. If you, for whatever reason, don't think it's worth it, don't do it. Oh yeah, and don't let your tank get too close to empty 'cause you'll clog your fuel filter by picking up the gunk in the bottom of the tank... :roll:

 

[Einstein]

I used a K&N on a couple cars about 10 years ago. Here's why I stopped: One day I had the intake tube off and found oily fine grit on the inside of the tube. Same for the leading edges of the throttle plate. Evidently the oil was shedding off the filter, and enough dirt was getting thorough the filter that it was depositing on the items downstream of the filter. Any boost in performance certainly isn't worth shortening the life of my engine and intake sensors.

 

[sspiller]

Interesting observations, K&N claims that if you get any oily grit down stream from the filter it was incorrectly oiled (which is a common problem). Their data supports better airflow and equal or better dirt filtering properties then stock paper filters... I guess it is one of those preference things.

 

[Einstein]

The oil filter was on a 95 Integra GS-R. I noticed the dirty film after only two months... I never had the chance to clean and oil it, nor did I on the car before it, in which I never checked the intake plumbing.

If it was incorrectly oiled, it was at the factory.

I had a friend with a previous generation Integra. He had an interesting setup where he put his K&N on near the fender, but retained the stock box. I talked him into running a new cheapie fram filter in the stock box for a month over the winter (in payment of adjusting his valves for free). When we took it out it was surprisingly dirty, and looked a little pink. That was it for me and K&N!

[quote:c75bfaa922="sspiller"]Interesting observations, K&N claims that if you get any oily grit down stream from the filter it was incorrectly oiled (which is a common problem). Their data supports better airflow and equal or better dirt filtering properties then stock paper filters... I guess it is one of those preference things.[/quote:c75bfaa922]

 

[sspiller]

If it was never re-oiled, that does suggest that oil is atomizing as air goes through the filter. The next question would be what are the implications:

WITHOUT GRIT: oil inside the air system, fuel system, is it enough to cause problems, k&n said no, i never had any long term issues with all the motorcycles i ran with k&n's

WITH GRIT: real issue, not worth the filter, k&n claims they let less grit in then a stock filter, who do you believe?

 

[Einstein]

More observations: http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=15;t=000144

 

[sspiller]

Interesting, when you put a CAI on from either Injen or K&N aren't you using an oiled filter? I'll check my intake pipe in a few thousand for grit and oil, if dirty, I'll pull the K&N as well... never had issues with them in the past.

 

[MikeQBF]

Every car forum I've surfed seems to have some sort of heated discussion going about the K&N. I have no feeling one way or another... other than a completely personal one, which is that all I need is another routine maintenance item turned into a project (filter cleaning).

The fundamental problem here is that the all the R&D which "proves" it works fine is going to be from somebody with a vested interest in it, and nobody is going to spend the time and money to "prove" that it doesn't work (or damages engines, etc.). Any alleged damage reports are going to be anecdotal at best.

Bottom line is that you do whatever you're comfortable with. Oiled-cloth filters have been around since... well... somebody figured out that gasoline engines needed filters, but that doesn't make them the best solution, just "a solution".